November Mixtape

By
David Malitz

Rap greats Public Enemy, seen here performing at Virgin Mobile FreeFest in August, remain a vital live act. (Kyle Gustafson - For The Washington Post

If you're looking for the Next Big Thing, it might just be one of the artists above. Maybe it's Philadelphia singer-songwriter Kurt Vile, who offers both meditative fingerpicked acoustic songs and sludgy psych-rock freakouts. Maybe it's Alela Diane, a young singer-songwriter who plays songs with a simple beauty. Or maybe it's locals Le Loup, who expand their sonic palette on sophomore album "Family."